° 
A50O BIRDS—PERDICID”®. 
The complement of eggs is from fifteen to twenty-five, usually about eighteen. Oc- 
casionally a nest is discovered which contains thirty or forty, and even more. Such a 
set is without doubt the joint labor of two or three hens. The eggs are pure white, 
unless stained by the bed of grass upon which they rest. At one end they are quite 
pointed, at the other obtusely rounded, and measure about 1.18 x .98 of an inch. 
At the time of the first settlements in Ohio, itis quite probable Quail were scarce, and 
found only in certain localities. The extensive and dense forests, covering almost the 
entire territory, made if ill-adapted to their nature; and these which were enabled to 
perpetuate their existence occupied only some of the limited open tracts of land then 
found here and there over the country. In sapport of this conclusion I will here refer 
to the facts contained in a statement made by my great-grand-father who emigrated to 
this State directly after peace with the Indians was affected by General Wayne under 
Washington, and, in the Spring of 1798, located with his family on what was then 
named and since known as the ‘ High-bank Prairie,’ near Chillicothe. In this seemingly 
favorable locality he resided several years before the voice of the Quail was heard; so 
long that he abandoned the anticipation of Quail shooting, and questioned if if weuld 
ever be recognized as a sportin Ohio. One day in carly summer he thought he heard a 
well-recognized though suppressed sound, ‘ Bob-White’ Somewhat doubting the sense 
of hearing, he immediately made observations and procured additional evidence, that 
of sight. Yes, he actually heard and saw the bird. Elated with the good news he pro- 
ceeded to the cabin and told his discovery with so much excitement and enthusiasm that. 
it created a laugh at his expense. He excused his manner, however, by saying it was 
sufficient to excite any one, to know that a highly esteemed and familiar bird had found 
its way through such an interminable wilderness, and announced his arrival in that 
modest and meaning way. 
Bob-White is really a bird of civilization. He flourishes best near the abodes of man. 
The cultivation of the soil and settlement of the country increase their number seem- 
ingly by lessenivg their dangers, and giving an easy mode of subsisting. With no 
friend but agriculture, with no protection but fields of grass and grain, they become 
abundant in spite of the Hawk, the Owl, the Crow, the Blue Jay, the Oppossum, the 
Raccoon, the Polecat, the Weasel, the Norway Rat, the Snake, the Deg, the Cat, the 
mowing machine, the sportsman, the trapper, the summer rains, and the winter snows, 
each of which has an influence in circumscribing their wonderfal capacity for inerease. 
The Quail regards man as his friend, although he is not a stranger to man’s treachery 
and cruelty. If not for the ill-treatment so often received from those whose friendship 
he courts, ho would soon become quite as domestic as the barn-yard poultry. In fact, 
he frequentiy presses his claims so perseveringly in this line, that they are received and 
recognized. Some years since, early in May, I discovered a nest being built by a pair 
of these birds, in a lot only a short distance from the house. Hach day, for several days, 
they added a little to the appearance of the structure, and when completed, an egg was 
deposited daily until nineteen filled the nest, and incubation began. Up to this time I 
had been extremely cautious in my observations, especially those approaching fa- 
miliarity. Bot now I made myself quite at home, going to the nest frequently every 
day; until the birds became so accustemed to my presence, and so well assured that in 
this confidence there was no danger, that the female would even permit my hand under 
her and to remove an egg, without being disturbed or getting off the nest. A week 
before the expected arrival of the little ones, Imade a tight fence of boards, about two 
feet high, inclosing a space twelve feet square. After hatching, the family remained in 
the enclosure and were fed the same as domestic chickens, neither the old nor young 
